Then and Now With Tonne Goodman: A Modern Update on Shalom Harlow’s Iconic Solar-Panel Picture in Honor of Earth Day
As a longtime champion of environmental causes, Tonne Goodman—legendary stylist, former Vogue fashion director, current Vogue sustainability editor—has always been my North Star on what to buy, where to buy it, when to buy it, and how to wear it. It doesn’t hurt that she is one of the chicest women I’ve ever met, and I idolize her personal style as much as I do her work for both Vogue and our planet. With Tonne’s book Point of View, which came out last year, we thought a joyful way to talk about the future of fashion would be to look back to some of Tonne’s greatest shoots for Vogue and breathe new life into the looks by shopping them out from sustainable brands. This is a celebration of timelessness—good style is forever as are great wardrobe basics—and we already know Tonne’s edit will stand the test of time.
THEN: “This shoot was very exciting for me, and still is,” says Tonne. We are celebrating the 50th year of Earth Day this week, and Tonne is thinking about how fashion fits into the sustainability space, and vice versa. This story, “Power Players,” with model Shalom Harlow, who Tonne says fondly, “is fabulous—a mannequin come to life,” appeared in the 2007 September issue of Vogue and was shot by Steven Klein. “We did a monthly fashion story in the magazine for a section called “Style Ethics” from 2009 through 2014. This shoot in particular was about the environmentally conscious things that were most accessible to the consumer—solar panels, recycling practices, an electric car, LED light bulbs. These issues are more in the forefront today, but we’ve been thinking about them for a long time. We need to celebrate Earth Day with a revived commitment to renewable energy.” Tonne continues as she looks through the spread: “This shoot was all about fabulous collaboration. You start with a fitting, go through the clothes, et cetera. We had [hairstylist] Garren with us, who had come with a suitcase of wigs. The wigs were the perfect final touch to bring this together.” While this intimate reflection might not sound like it particularly relates to our discussion of sustainable fashion, I can’t help but think that to properly celebrate Earth Day, it’s entirely about coming together. A “fabulous collaboration,” as Tonne says, to do better every day and to learn from one another. That is the future.
NOW: This week, we are here to not only collaborate with you on some stylish, sustainable fashion pieces, but also show off some solar-powered items that can help you make small steps to a greatly improved future. As Tonne says, “You can’t be too dramatic about the state of things—we must be better.” So, we are here to help with both inspirational and practical applications. This image starts with a great, capital G, pair of pants, like the “everyday pant” from Époque Évolution. Made from a blend of recycled polyester and certified non-mulesed wool, these trousers are machine washable, so they stay as sustainable as they start, wear after wear without the need for dry cleaning. Raquel Allegra’s tie-dye shirts are made in Los Angeles using upcycled cotton tees and can definitely be considered one of the originators of the tie-dye trend.
Époque Évolution everyday pant
$198.00, ÉPOQUE ÉVOLUTION
Raquel Allegra tie-dye t-shirt
$220.00, FARFETCH
Add the perfect chunky-heeled sandal from fashion’s most famous environmentalist, Stella McCartney, and you’re ready for anything.
Stella McCartney black Rhea sandals
$795.00, STELLA MCCARTNEY
Timex expedition ranger solar watch
$95.00, TIMEX
To keep up with the spirit of adventure, and of this image, lean into solar-powered accessories such as Timex’s solar watch, a solar charging station for all your electronic devices, and the chicest solar-powered light that can go anywhere, inside or out.
Powertraveller solar adventurer portable solar-paneled phone charger
$89.00, NEIMAN MARCUS
Lexon Design Hellonite wireless solar light
$40.00, NEIMAN MARCUS
Originally Appeared on Vogue
